deliuerers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Diuisiensis sayth That being awed by Earle Godwin and for the feare of hasarding his life and kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the marriage of Editha Moreouer Polydore reports That for the hate he bore her father who had not long before most trayterously slaine his brother Alphred hee caused himselfe to be diuorced from her seising her goods and dower to his owne vse and pleasure Ranulphus and one that writes himselfe Anonimos as willing to conceale his name say That shee was disrobed of all her Queene-like honors and confined into the Abbey of Warnwell with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custodie of the Abbesse William of Malmesbury and Marianus Scotus haue left remembred That hee neyther dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her kindred or purpose of Chastitie they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoeuer the effects of that abstenious life were not onely preiudiciall but brought lamentable effects vpon this distracted kingdome namely Innouation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was inuaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happie was that subiect that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgraue Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessarie for marryed folke to tye themselues to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not conuenient for any such as haue to themselues and in their soules taken vpon them the strict life of Virginitie to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeare by this discourse following recorded by Gulielm Malmsburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Houeden Capgraue c. Henry the first of that name king of England and crowned in the yeere of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselme once a Monke of Normandie but after by William Rufus constituted Archbishop of Canterburie marryed vnto Maude daughter to Malcolme the Scottish king she hauing taken a Vow and being a profest Nunne in the Abbey of Winchester Much adoe had the King her father the Queene her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or persuade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the Fruit that should succeed from her bodie which after as Polydore affirmes turned to the great misfortune and miserie of her children for afterwards two of her sonnes William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maude who was afterwards Empresse prooued an vnfortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to be slaine it thus happened All forraine warres being past and ciuile combustions pacified in the yeere of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great ioy and triumph left Normandie and came into England But within few dayes following this great mirth and iollitie turned into a most heauie and fearefull sorrow for William and Richard his two sonnes with Mary his daughter Otwell their Tutor and Guardian Richard Earle of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chapleines Chamberlaines Butlers and Seruitors for so they are tearmed in the storie the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heires Ladyes and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and fortie besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fiftie all these sauing one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not any one of their bodyes euer after found Many attribute this great Iudgement to the heauie Curse of Queene Maude others censure of it diuersly Howsoeuer in this King as Polydore sayth ended the Descent and Lyne of the Normans Of this Anselme before spoken of there are diuerse Epistles yet extant to many women in those dayes reputed of great Temperance and Chastitie as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maude Abbesse of Cane in Normandie and Maude the Abbesse of Walton here in England Hee writ a Treatife about the same time called Planctus a missae Virginitatis i. A bewayling of lost Virginitie So farre Iohn Bale And so much shall serue for Chast Wiues in this kind being loth to tyre the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio sayth that Lyuia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked sayd to the rest about her That to continent women and chast matrons such obiects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The vnchast eye more drawes the poyson of sinne from beautie which is Gods excellent workemanship from which the chast and contrite heart deriues the Creators praise and glorie But my hope is that in exposing vnto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will looke vpon them should I strip them neuer so naked with the eyes of Lyuia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Appelles his woman not better than a picture of white Marble I haue heard of a man that liuing to the age of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that time he neuer touched the bodie of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carrie that Virginall vow with him to his graue but at length being visited with sickenesse and hauing a faire estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandrie and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could hee sent to demaund the counsell of the Phisitians who hauing well considered the estate of his bodie all agreed in this that since the phisick of the soule belonged not to them but onely the phisick of the bodie they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that this present estate was dangerous and they found but onely one way in art for his cure and recouerie which was in plaine tearmes To vse the companie of a woman and so tooke their leaues and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to loose his Virginitie which hee had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keepe yet longer and hauing meditated with himself from whom he was to depart and what to leaue behind him namely his possessions his money his neighbours friends and kindred and whether hee was to remooue to the cold and comfortlesse graue he resolued with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long he could the feare of the last Therefore hee resolued rather than to be accessorie to the hastening his owne death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therfore so ordered by
APOLLO CLIO THALIA TERPSICHORE POLYMNIA TUNAIKEION or NINE BOOKES of Various History Concerninge Women Inscribed by the names of the Nine Muses Written by Thom Heywoode Aut prodesse solent aut delectare LONDON Printed by ADAM ISLIP 1624. EVTERPE MELPOMENE ERATO VRANIA CALLIOPE Aut prodesse solent aut delectare TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST NOBLE EDVVARD SOMERSET Earle of Worcester Baron Herbert of Ragland Lord Chepstowe Strigull and Gower Lord Priuie Seale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties Priuie Councell RIGHT HONOVRABLE AFter so long a discontinuance and neglect of a most acknowledged dutie I durst not assume that boldnesse nor dare I now without blushing to appeare before you at this present did I not bring the Nine Muses with an Armie of Goddesses and Women to mediate in my behalfe In these few sheets I haue lodged to the number of three thousand who could they speake would vndoubtedly informe you that they were acquired and sought out for no other reason than to be exposed to your noble view and most iudiciall censure All which I haue charmed with such art that the fairest amongst them you may admit into your Bedchamber without suspition and the most clamorous into your Closet without noyse Amongst the illustrious Queenes your Lordship may reade those whom you haue as zealously honored as you haue been by them royally fauored Q. Elizabeth Q. Anne Amongst the Noble Ladies memorated for their incomparable Beauties or commended to posteritie for their admirable Vertues thinke my Lord you behold all the vnparalleld accomplishments of the excellent Ladies your Daughters intended and comprehended And to whom more pertinently may I commend the patronage of good women than to your Honor who hath been the happie Husband fortunate Father of such If you happen of others in this Tractat contrarily disposed they are but as Foyles to set off the lustre of the former for Vertue and Vice Beautie and Deformitie discouered together makes the horrid aspect of the one more odible and the imitable glory of the other more eminent Therfore Minerua still thought her selfe fairest when Medusa's Head was present which was of all others the foulest If your Lordship from your more weightie designes of State and grauer Imployments can spare any retyred houres and in them to vouchsafe the perusall of these few imperfect histories I shall not only hold my trauaile well vndertaken but liberally rewarded I was my Lord your creature and amongst other of your seruants you bestowed me vpon the excellent Princesse Q. Anne to whose memorie I haue celebrated in these Papers the zeale of a subiect and a seruant but by her lamented death your Gift my Lord is returned againe into your hands being stil yours either to keepe vnto your selfe or to conferre where your noble disposition shall best please Howsoeuer as I haue euer been an admirer of your Vertues so my prayers still are they may not only continue you a lasting Honor here vpon Earth but purchase you an euerlasting Glorie reserued for you in Heauen Your poore yet faithfull seruant THO. HEYWOOD TO THE READER GEnerous Reader I haue exposed to thy most iudiciall view a Discourse of Women wherein expect not that I should either enuiously carpe at the particular manners or actions of any liuing nor iniuriously detract from the Sepulchers of the dead the first I could neuer affect the last I did alwayes detest I only present thee with a Collection of Histories which touch the generalitie of Women such as haue either beene illustrated for their Vertues and Noble Actions or contrarily branded for their Vices and baser Conditions in all which I haue not exceeded the bounds and limits of good and sufficient Authoritie Here thou mayest reade of all degrees from the Scepter in the Court to the Sheepe-hooke in the Cottage of all Times from the first Rainebow to the last blazing Starre of all knowne Nations from the North to the Meridian and from the East to the Septentrion of all Faiths Iewes Pagans or Christians of all Callings Virgins Wiues or Widowes of the Faire and Foule Chast and Wanton of each of these something Briefely of all Estates Conditions and Qualities whatsoeuer In the Goddesses and other Poeticall Fictions which to some Readers may appeare fabulously impossible you shall find their misticall sences made perspicuous and plaine with the true intent of the Poets which was not as some haue dreamed meerely to transferre Worship and Honor vpon Naturall Causes thereby to debarre the true and euer-liuing Creator of his diuine Adoration but rather including in darke and aenigmaticall Histories Precepts of Wisdome and Knowledge least they should be made too popular and therefore subiect to contempt The like Illustrations you shall find in the Nymphes Graces Oreades Driades Hamadriades c. No seeming Fable being here remembred though neuer so intricate obscure which is not made plaine and easie In the Muses you shall meet with the first Inuentresses of all good Arts and Disciplines in the Sybills their diuine Prophesies set downe at large in the Vestalls the honor due to Chastitie in Queenes how such should beare themselues in their power and other Noble Ladies in their obedience Wiues may reade here of chast Virgins to patterne their Daughters by and how to demeane themselues in all Coniugall loue towards their Husbands Widowes may finde what may best become their solitude and Matrons those accomplishments that most dignifie their grauitie and so of the rest Now if any aske Why I haue shut vp and contruded within a narrow roome many large Histories not delating them with euerie plenarie circumstance I answer That therein I haue imitated Aelianus de Var. Hist. and Valer. Maxim who epitomised great and memorable acts reducing and contracting into a compendious Method wide and loose Histories giuing them notwithstanding their full weight in few words Some also may cauill that I haue not introduced them in order neither Alphabetically nor according to custome or president which I thus excuse The most cunning and curious Musick is that which is made out of Discords and Ouid preferres a blunt Carriage and a neglected Habit aboue all sprucenesse and formalitie It may be likewise obiected Why amongst sad and graue Histories I haue here and there inserted fabulous Ieasts and Tales sauouring of Lightnesse I answer I haue therein imitated our Historicall and Comicall Poets that write to the Stage who least the Auditorie should be dulled with serious courses which are meerely weightie and materiall in euerie Act present some Zanie with his Mimick action to breed in the lesse capable mirth and laughter For they that write to all must striue to please all And as such fashion themselues to a multitude consisting of spectators seuerally addicted so I to an vniuersalitie of Readers diuersly disposed I may be further questioned Why I haue in the Front of my Booke no Encomiasticks or commendatorie Verses from my friends to
of diuerse other women for diuerse noble actions Illustrious Dominica the wife of the Emperour Valens when the Gothes had threatned the vtter subuersion of Constantinople by her wisedome and descretion mediated with the enemie was the sole means of the safetie both of the people and citie Sex Aurelius reports of Pompeia Plautina when hir husband Iulian the Emperor had with intollerable exactions oppressed the people insomuch that their discontents were readie to breake out into rebellion this vertuous princesse so farre temporised with the Emperour that by her meanes they were released from all exactions and tributes Diaconus makes mention of Placidia the sister and wife of Honorius who in the yeare 412 when Ataulphus king of the Gothes presented himselfe with an inuincible armie before the walls of Rome threatning vtterly to subuert the cittie and after rebuild it againe and in steede of Rome to call it Gothia so wrought with the barbarous king by persuasions and promises that she turned his pride to pitie and his immanitie to mercie so that he departed thence without any assault made against the cittie or the least spoile done vnto the countrey Vollateranus speakes of Inguldis the sister of Childebert who being marryed to Hermogillus sonne to Lemigildus king of the Gothes persuaded her husband then an infidell to bee a true and constant professour of the Christian faith The like we reade of Cleotilda queene of France who did the like good worke vpon her husband Clodoncus the sonne of Childericke Nor hath our owne nation beene barreine of good examples since Helena the mother of Constantine may in that kind claime equalitie if not precedencie before any As Rome affoorded a Volumnia mother to Martius Cariolanus so England yeelded as eminent a Ladie in all points the mother to Brennus and Belinus The first when her sonne had worthilie deserued of his countrie euen to the attaining of all militarie honours and as an addition to the rest for his braue seruice against the cittie of Coriolorus had the denomination of Coriolanus bestowed vpon him by the publique sufferage of the Senat yet notwithstanding for all his merites and vnmatchable exploits by which he purchased to himselfe the honor to be called Pater Patriae yet after by the ingratefull multitude who were euer emulous of any mans deserued greatnesse hee was not onely degraded from all his titles of dignitie but had the doome of euerlasting banishment denounced against him in reuenge of which ingratitude hauing raised an armie and inuaded the townes of the Roman empire readie to inuest himselfe before the quaking and affrighted cittie when they had first sent to him to make their attonement their priests who by reason of their sacred offices were held in much reuerence next their Augurers and South-sayers then the Aeditiae which were the keepers of their Temples and last their prophets but none of these preuailing as their last refuge the Roman matrons presented themselues before Volumnia the mother of Martius humblie intreating her to make intercession betwixt her sons rage and the imminent calamitie This reuerent Ladie mooued with their teares and acclamations accompanied with Virgilia the wife of Coriolanus and many other noble matrons and damosells hauing before promised to plead in their behalfes as farre as a miserable mother could claime interest in an iniured sonne repaired to his tent and casting themselues downe at his feete humblie besought him of compassion the feare exprest in their faces and the sorrow in their habits cast vpon the enemy a sudden reuerence and silence when Volumnia with such feeling accents and moouing Oratorie mixed with teares besought the peace of the cittie that they made a reuerent impression in the heart of Coriolanus who supporting his mother and aduancing his wife from the earth brake out into this extasie Vicistis You haue ouercome me Thus by these excellent women all combustions of warre were appeased a threatned misery preuented and a generall and safe peace setled in the Commonweale Of no lesse remarke was the wife of Mulmutius Dunwallo the sonne to Cloten duke of Cornwall who as Fabian remembers of him hauing in great peace and tranquilitie gouerned the kingdome for the space of fortie yeres and was after buried in a place by him before erected cald the Temple of peace leauing the land equally deuided betwixt his two sonnes Belinus and Brennus to Belinus the elder was allotted England Wales and Cornewall vnto Brennus all the North parts beyond Humber who being a young man and desirous of honour not content with the principalitie appointed him commenced against Belinus a fearefull war But as the two brothers were readie to ioyne battaile the mother presented herselfe betwixt the armies exposing her bodie to their opposit weapons shewing the breasts that gaue them sucke and with noble admonitions and motherlie persuasions so molified the hearts of the incensed princes that all ciuill and seditious warre layd aside they entered a friendly and brotherly league which was so established in the reuerent vertues of the mother that it was neuer after violated in all their life times after With what condigne honours is queene Marcia's memorie worthie to be celebrated who being the wife to Guinthelinus king of Britaine the sonne of Gurgunscius was in those daies of that excellent learning and knowledge that she deuised many profitable and wholsome lawes to the benefit of the Common-wealth which were much esteemed amongst the Brittaines and carefully obserued being cald after her name The Mercean laws many ages insuing But being loath to instance too many to one purpose least I should rather seeme tedious than delightfull to the reader I will adde onely one English lady in another kind memorable and worthy for her goodnes an euerlasting character There was a noble man of England created Earle of Couentrie this man was so austere to the citisens that he had iniuriously wrested from them all their ancient franchises and priuiledges insomuch that by his oppressions insufferable exactions the cittie was much decaied the people disabled in their power and weakened in their fortunes These petitioned to the Countesse a noble and well disposed lady to mediate for them to the Earle That their customes and former liberties might be restored The lady vndertakes their suit and with much importunitie solicited her lord in their behalfe but he being of a haughtie and insolent disposition stil persisted immoueable but she commiserating their estate as daily mooued with their complaints without cessation still sollicited for them and with such vrgence that he had neither peace at boord nor quiet in bed he at length as much wearied with her importunitie as she tired with their petitions she wrested from him this churlish and indeffinite answer Cease Lady further to persuade me for I protest and that with an vnaltered resolution that there is but one onely meanes by which their franchises are to be recouered which
early to attend the king who was that day to bee entertained by the earle his father in law All things were noblie prouided and Edgar royally receiued and set to dinner some write that Ethelâ—old had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wiues habit and sit at the kings Table but I find no such matter remembered in my Author the truth is the king about the middest of dinner cald for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not haue her companie knowing it was a generall obseruation in England that without the wiues entertainement there could be no true and heartie welcome The earle replied that at that time he was an vnhappie widdower he then demaunded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered heauen had onely blest him with one daughter a plaine damosell yet the sole hope of his future memorie The king was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought vnto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agonie yet still hoping she had done as hee had late inioyned her when shee contrarie to his expectation came in apparelled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging downe in artificiall curles her head stoocke with jewells and about her neck a chaine of diamonds which gaue a wonderous addition to that beautie which naked of it selfe without any ornament was not to bee paraleld a contrarie effect it wrought in the king and her husband To Edgar she seemed some goddesse at least a miracle in nature to Ethelwold in regard of his feare a furie or what worse hee could compare her to O fraile woman in this one vanitie to appeare beautifull in the eyes of a king thou hast committed two heinous and grieuous sinnes Adulterie and Murder for accordingly it so fell out Edgar was as much surprised with her loue as incensed with hate against her lord both which for the present he dissembled neither smiling on the one nor frowning on the other In the afternoone the king would needes hunt the stagge in the forrest of Werwelly since called Hoore-wood In the chace by the appointment of Edgar Earle Ethelwold was strooke through the bodie with an arrow and so slaine the king after made Elfritha his bride and queene The Earle had a base sonne then present at the death of his father of whom the king asked how hee liked that manner of hunting to whom he answered Royall sir what seemeth good to you shal be to me no way offensiue from that time forward he was euer gratious with the king And Elfritha thinking to make attonement with heauen for the murder of her husband or rather as Ranulphus saith for causing Edward to whom she was step-mother to be slaine that her owne sonne Egelredus might raigne builded an Abbie for Nunnes at Worwell where she was after buried Gunnora IN the time that Agapitus was Pope Lewis king of Fraunce the sonne of Charles caused William Longa Spata the second duke of Normandie to bee treacherously slaine this William was sonne to Rollo The Lords of Normandie with this murder much insenced watched their aduantage and surprised the king in Rhothemage where they committed him to safe custodie till he had promised and sworne to yeeld vp Normandie to Richard sonne and immediate heire to William the late murdered duke and moreouer in what place soeuer the king and the yong duke should haue meeting to conferre that Richard should weare his sword but king Lewis neither to haue sword nor knife about him This Richard being yong was called Richard the Old he had besides another attribute giuen him which was Richard without Feare because he was neuer known to be dismayde at any thing but a third aboue these was that he pretended to be wonderous religious He was duke two and fiftie yeares and tooke a Ladie to his bed from Denmarke whose name was Gunnora by whom he had fiue sonnes and two daughters the eldest of which was married to Etheldredus king of England her name was Emma and shee was called the flower of Normandie Concerning this bold yet religious duke it is reported by Marianus lib. 2. Henricus Ranulphus and others that besides many other testimonies of his sanctitie this one made him most eminent A Monke of Andoenus in Rothomage a town in Normandie going one night to meete with his sweet heart his way lay ouer a bridge and vnder that bridge was a deepe foord or riuer it so happened that mistaking his footing hee fell into the water and there was drowned He was no sooner dead but there came to carrie away his soule an Angell and a Fiend these two contended about it the one would haue it so would the other great was the controuersie betwixt them at length they concluded to put the case to duke Richard both to stand to his arbitrement much pleading there was on both sides at length the duke gaue sentence That the soule should be restored againe to the bodie be placed againe vpon that bridge from whence he had falne and if then he would offer to goe from thence to his sweet heart the diuell should take him but if otherwise he because he was a Church-man should be still in the Angels protection This was done and the Monke left his way to the woman and fled to the church as to a sanctuarie whether the duke went the next day and found the Monkes clothes still wet and told the Abbot euerie circumstance as it fell out therefore the Monke was shriuen did penance was absolued and reconciled This I haue read which I persuade no man to beleeue This duke liued with the faire Gunnora long time dishonestly and without marriage had by her those children aforesaid but at length by the persuasion of the nobilitie and intercession of the cleargie he tooke her to wife The first night after the marriage when the duke came to her bed she turned her backe towards him which she had neuer done till that time at which hee maruelling demaunded of her the reason why she did so To whom she answered before I was your strumpet and therfore as a seruant was tide to doe your pleasure in althings but now I am your wife and made part of your selfe therefore henceforth I claime with you an equall soueraigntie and will doe what mee list bearing my selfe now like a princesse not like a prostitute This I am easily induced to beleeue for how soone do honoures change manners Iuuenall in his sixt Satire speaking of marriage thus sayth Semper habet lites aeternaque iurgia lectus c. The marriage bed is sildome without strife And mutuall chidinges hee that takes a wife Bargaines for mightie trouble and small rest Sleepe growes a stranger then whilest in her brest She lodgeth Passion Selfe-will Anger Feare And from her eyes drops many a
pourtrayde the picture of the Sauiour of the world with a flower-de-lyce in his hand and so marched to Orleance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and releeue the towne From thence shee passed to Reames tooke the cittie and caused the Dolphin there to proclaime himselfe king and take vpon him the crowne of France She after tooke Iargueux a strong towne and in it the Earle of Suffolke with many other braue English gentlemen She fought the great battaile of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the lord Talbâ—â— the skourge and terror of the French nation the lord Seales the lord Hungerfâ—rd with many others both of name and qualitie she tooke in Benueele Mehun Trois and diuers other townes of great import and consequence at length in a camisado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by sir Iohn of Entenburch a Burgonian captaine and sent to Roan The French Cronicles affirme that the morning before she was surprised she tooke the sacrament and comming from Church told to diuerse that were about her that she was betraide her life sold and should shortly after be deliuered vp vnto a violent death For sir Iohn gaue a great sum of money to betray her The English comming to inuest themselues before Mondidier Ioan was aduised to issue out by Elaâ—ie and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates vpon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Beuoise who condemned her to the fire for a sorceresse which iudgement was accordingly executed vpon her in Roane in the market place Twentie six yeares after Charles the king for a great summe of money procured an annichilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Virago inspired with diuine instinct in memorie of whose vertuous life and vniust death he caused a faire crosse to â—ee erected iust in the place where her bodie was burned I returne againe to the English Fabian and Harding speake of Emma sister to the Norman duke called Richard who for her extraordinarie beautie was called The flower of Normandie she was married to Ethelred king of England By her heroicke spirit and masculine instigation the king sent to all parts of the kingdome secret and strict commissions That vpon a certaine day and hour assigned all those Danes which had vsurped in the land and vsed great crueltie should be slaughtered which at her behest and the kings commaund was accordingly performed which though it after prooued ominous and was the cause of much miserie and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Of queene Margaret the wife of Henrie the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimitie to speake at large would aske a Volume rather than a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tyed And therefore whosoeuer is deâ—irous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battailes fought against the house of Yorke in which she was personally present I referre them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more than womanish spirit to euerlasting memorie With her therefore I conclude my female Martiallists And now me thinkes I am come where I would be and that is amongst you aire Fones Of Faire Women IT is reported of a king that for many yeeres had no issue and desirous to haue an heire of his owne bloud and begetting to succeed in the Throne vpon his earnest supplication to the diuine powers he was blessed with a faire sonne both of beautie and hope And now being possest of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that hee might haue as much comfort of him in his growth as hope in his infancie hee therefore sent abroad to find out the most cunning Astrologians to calculate of his natiuitie that if the starres were any way maleuolent to him at his birth he might by instruction and good education as farre as was possible preuent any disaster that the Planets had before threatened A meeting to that purpose being appointed and the Philosophers and learned men from all parts assembled after much consultation it was concluded amongst them That if the infant saw Sunne or Moone at any time within the space of ten yeeres hee should most assuredly be depriued the benefit of sight all his life time after With this their definitiue conclusion the father wondrously perplexed was rather willing to vse any faire meanes of preuention than any way to tempt the crosse influence of the starres Hee therefore caused a Cell or Caue to be cut out of a deepe Rocke and conueying thither all things necessarie for his education hee was kept there in the charge of a learned tutor who well instructed him in the Theorie of all those Arts which best suited his apprehension The time of ten yeeres being expired and the feare of that ominous calculation past ouer the day was appointed when his purpose was to publish his sonne to the world and to shew him the Sunne and Moone of which he had often heard and till then neuer saw entire and to present vnto his view all such creatures of which he had beene told and read but could distinguish none of them but by heare-say They brought before him a Horse a Dogge a Lion with many other beasts of seuerall kindes of which he onely looked but seemed in them to take small pleasure They shewed him Siluer Gold Plate and Iewels in these likewise hee appeared to take small delight or none as not knowing to what purpose they were vsefull yet with a kind of dull discontent he demanded their names and so past them ouer At length the king commanded certaine beautifull virgins gorgeously attyred to be brought into his presence which the Prince no sooner saw but as recollecting his spirits with a kind of alacritie and change of cheare he earnestly demanded What kind of creatures they were how bred how named and to what vse created To whom his tutor ieastingly replyed These be called Deuills of which I oft haue told you and they are the great tempters of mankind Then his father demanded of him To which of all these things he had beheld he stood affected best and to whose societie hee was most enclined who presently answered O Father I onely desire to be attended by these Deuils Such is the attractiue power of beautie which women cannot fully appropriate to themselues since it is eminent in all other creatures Who wonders not at the beautie of the Sunne the glorie of the Moone and the splendor of the starres the brightnesse of the morning and the faire shutting in of the euening Come to the flowers and plants what artificiall colour can be compared to the leaues of the Marigold the Purple of the Violet the curious mixture of the Gillyflower or the whitenesse of the Lilly to which Salomon in all his glorie was not to be equalled You that are prowd of your haire
least amongst the Magitians as hauing his art or rather diabolicall practise from his father hereditarie confesseth that in all his life time in his great familiaritie and acquaintance amongst them he neuer knew any one that was not in some part mishapen deformed The same Author with whose opinion Wicrius Hippocrates and others assent affirms that all those Demoniacks or Witches after they haue had commerce and congresse with the Deuill haue about them a continuall nastie and odious smell of which by the ancient writers they were called Faetentes by the Vasconians Fetelleres à Faetore i. Of stench insomuch that women who by nature haue a more sweet and refreshing breath than men after their beastly consocietie with Sathan change the propertie of nature and grow horrid putred corrupt and contagious For Sprangerus witnesseth who hath taken the examination of many they haue confessed a thing fearefull to be spoken to haue had carnall copulation with euil and vncleane spirits who no doubt beare the smell of the inâ—isible sulphure about them Now concerning this Magicke what reputation it hath beene in amongst men which in effect is no better than plaine Witchcraft in women we may reade in Nauclerus and Platina That all the Popes inclusiuely from Siluester the second to Gregorie the seuenth were Magicians but Cardinall Benno who obserued all the Bishops that way deuoted numbers but fiue Siluester the second Benedict the ninth Iohn the twentieth and one and twentieth and Gregorie the seuenth Of these Augustinus Onuphrius one of the Popes chamber that from the Vatican and the Liues of the Popes there registred made a diligent collection speakes of two only Siluester the second and Benedict the ninth one of them was after expelled from the Papacie Siluester lying vpon his death bed desired his tongue to be torne out and his hands to be cut off that had sacrifised to the Deuill confessing that he had neuer any inspection into that damnable Art till he was Archbishop of Rhemes These are the best rewards that Sathan bestowes vpon his suppliants and seruants how comes it else so many wretched and penurious Witches some beg their bread some die of hunger others rot in prisons and so many come to the gallowes or the stake It is reported of a gentleman of Mediolanum that hauing his enemie at his mercie held his steeletto to his heart and swore that vnlesse he would instantly abiure his faith and renounce his Sauiour had he a thousand liues he would instantly with as many wounds despoile him of all which the other for feare assenting to and he hauing made him iterate ouer and ouer his vnchristianlike blasphemies in the middle of his horrible abiuration stabd him to the heart vttering these words See I am reuenged of thy soule and bodie at once for as thy bodie is desperate of life so is thy soule of mercie This vncharitable wretch was an apt schollar to the grand Deuill his master who in the like manner deales with all his seruants who after he hath made them renounce their faith blaspheame their maker and do to him all beastly and abhominable adoration such as in their owne confessions shall be hereafter related he not only leaues them abiects from Gods fauour whose diuine maiestie they haue so fearefully blasphemed but deliuers them vp to all afflictions and tribulations of this life and all excruciations and torments in the world to come Horrible and fearefull haue beene the most remarkeable deaths of many of the professors of this diabolicall Art for whom the lawes of man hath spared as a terror to others the hand of heauen hath punished I will onely giue you a tast of some few Abdias Bab. Episcopus lib. 6. Certam Apostol writes That Zaroes and Arphaxad two infamous Magitians amongst the Persians with their exorcismes and incantations deluding the people in the houre when Simon and Iude suffered martyredome were stroke with lightning from heauen and so perisht Lucius Piso in the first booke of his Annals speakes of one Cinops a prince amongst the Magitians who at the prayer of S. Iohn the Euangelist was swallowed vp in a riuer Olaus Magnus lib. 2. cap. 4. de gentib Septentrional tells vs of one Methotis who by his prestigious iuglings had insinuated into the hearts of the people and purchast that opinion and authoritie amongst them that he was called The high and chiefe Priest to the gods who was after torne to peeces by the multitude from whose scattred limbes such a contagion grew that it infected the ayre of which much people perished Hollerus the Magitian was staine Oddo the Dane was besides his skill in Magicke a great pyrat it is written of him Wierius li. 2. ca. 4. that without ship or boat he would make his transmarine passage ouer the Ocean and by his Inchanâ—ments raise stormes to shipwrecke the vessells of his enemies hee was after notwithstanding swallowed in the sea and there most wretchedly perished D. Iohn Faustus borne at Kuneling a Village neere Cracouia was found dead by his bed side his face blasted and turned backward in the Dukedome of Wittenberch at which time the house wherein he died was shaken with a tempest and horrible Earthquake The Earle Matisconensis a practitioner in the same diuellish studie sitting at Dinner amongst many Lords Barons Captaines and others was snatcht from the Boord by Deuils and in the sight and view of all the people three times hurried swiftly round about the citie being heard to cry Succurrite Succurrite i. Helpe Helpe of him Hugo Cluniacensis writes more largely A Priest at Noremberch searching for hidden Treasure in a place where the Deuill had directed him found it guarded by a Spirit in the semblance of a great blacke Dogge in the search of which the Earth fell vpon him and buryed him aliue And this happened in the yeere 1530. Wierius A Magician of Salsburch vndertooke to call all the Serpents together within a mile of the place and bring them into one Pit digged for the purpose in the trayne of which came after the rest a great Serpent supposed to be the Deuill and twining about him cast him in amongst the rest where they together perished The like vntimely deaths wee reade of Appion Grammaticus Iulian Apostata Artephius Robertus Anglicus amongst the Heluetians Petrus Axonensis sirnamed Conciliator Albertus Teutonicus Arnoldus de villa noua Anselmus Parmensis Pycatrix Hispanus Cicchus Ascalus Florentinus and many others Commendable therefore it was in the French king who when one Friscalanus Cenomannus a man excellent in this Science came to shew diuerse prestigious feats and trickes before him for which he expected reward amongst others he caused the Linkes of a Golden Chayne to be taken asunder and remooued them to diuerse remote places of the chamber which came of themselues to one place and were instantly ioyned together as before Which the king seeing and being thereat astonished he commanded him instantly from